Sideshows, Sideshows, Sideshows!

07 February 2011

Festivals can be elusive, mysterious beasts: you sometimes miss bands you wanted to see, and see bands you had no intention of seeing, but are glad you did anyway. Frequently, these experiences can leave you wanting more, which is where sideshows come in.

As the festival winds its way west for next weekend's dates in Adelaide and Perth, Sydney and Melbourne can look forward to a week of rich delights, with sideshows by a bevy of Laneway acts every day this week. Deep breath:

Portand experimental rock-trio Menomena are playing at Sydney's The Factory Theatre tonight (tix here or here), and then Melbourne's East Brunswick Club on Wednesday February 9. A definite highlight of the festivals so far, these lads are not to be missed.

Veteran art-rockers Blonde Redhead alsoplay tonight at Billboard in Melbourne; Sydneysiders can catch Yeasayer tonight at The Metro Theatre, or Two Door Cinema Club at the Enmore Theatre. Those two bands will then head south, with TDCC playing The Prince Bandroom on Tuesday (all ages) and Wednesday, and Yeasayer playing Billboard on Thursday.

Festival standout Les Savy Fav will be appearing at Billboard on Tuesday night, before heading north to play Sydney's Manning Bar on Thursday.

Brooklyn dudes Bear In Heaven and The Antlers are playing what promises to be a pretty enormous double bill at Melbourne's Corner Hotel on Wednesday night; Foals and Holy Fuck are also teaming up for a big one at the Enmore on Thursday.

Atlanta noiseniks Deerhunter are playing two shows: an all ages show at Sydney's Metro on Tuesday, followed by a Melbourne show at Billboard the following night.

Last but definitely not least, L.A. psych rockers Warpaint, fresh from winning over festival audiences in three countries, will take the stage at the Oxford Art Factory on Tuesday night, followed by a show at Melbourne's Northcote Social Club on Thursday.

St. Jerome's Laneway Festival is about leading new and revered seminal music. The festival has always been interested in finding what's fresh and great and bringing it to unique settings and surrounds to be appreciated by music lovers.

The size of the festivals, the locations and the way we encourage community all form part of the way in which the Laneway team strive to present a live music experience like no other.